Table 10. Scrub and tree encroachment on to plains.
Cockrell (1975) measured 16 oak and 30 hornbeam stumps in a transect from Round
Thicket south across Almshouse Plain to tree land on the south side to find the rate of en-
croachment of trees on to the Plain. Reliable results could be obtained for the last 30-40
years. They suggest a rate of encroachment of 1.1 to 1.4 m a — 1.
Cockrell also consulted two maps (1867 and 1969) to assist in producing a crude rate of
occlusion of the Plains on a number of transects. She also measured the increase in width of
Round Thicket and from these she calculated a minimum rate of encroachment of 0.36 m
a — 1 and a maximum of 0.54 ma-1. The faster rate in the recent past is consistent with
lower grazing densities of deer, cattle and rabbits.
1969
Transect Distance in Metres Ratio -----
1870 1969 1870
Round Thicket N-S 243 254 1.04
Central region
Round Thicket N-S 222 317 1.43
Easter edge
Round Thicket E-W 338 348 1.03
Almshouse Plain N-S 74 38 0.51
Widest point
Almshouse Plain N-S 63 9.5 0.15
Narrowest point
example. What Buxton shows as open plain (his map E) is now incipient oak
high forest and is managed as such. The loss of grassland is contrary to the Act:
'' Turf and herbage growing on the Forest'' are not being protected.
Recent compromise occurs on Almshouse Plain and along the All by
Epping Thicks where scrub has been removed but the young trees it fostered
have been left with the effect of replacing grassy plain with permanent shade
and ultimately secondary woodland.
Almost everywhere there has been a marked and continuing march toward
uniformity. Qvist (1971 p. 14) states that the Forest covers c. 6000 acres, 4000
tree-covered and 2000 as grass: the current Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map
shows less plain. A systematic survey to determine the changes between the first
edition Ordnance Survey six-inch to one mile and the aerial photographic cover
for 1970 is very instructive (see fig. 13).
Buxton noted the colonising powers of birch (p. 115-116) and his prediction
that "Those who are now middle-aged will live to see the bare plain between the
'Wake Arms' and Monk Wood (Deer Shelter Plain) and other openings . . .
restored (sic, through birch regeneration) by nature" has proved all too ac-
curate — to the greater loss of the exceedingly valuable marshy plains, their
special wildlife and, thus, diversity.
Preservation of Natural Features
Buxton (p. 157) and Qvist (p. 12 ff) and doubtless many others had great
difficulty in accurately defining Parliament's meaning when charging the
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